A knowledge hub for understanding where traceability can fail, what stable isotopes can reveal, and how scientific evidence can support decisions in polluted sites, water systems, raw materials and supply chains.
When the question becomes origin, mixing, provenance or source attribution, isotope fingerprints can add a deeper level of evidence.
JPMorgan was reported to be the owner of bags in an LME warehouse that were expected to contain nickel but contained stones instead. The material would have been worth about USD 1.3 million if it had been nickel.
Reuters reported on Trafigura’s nickel fraud case, involving cargoes billed as high-grade nickel but allegedly containing low-value carbon steel, with a charge of about USD 590 million.
OECD and EUIPO estimated global trade in counterfeit goods at approximately USD 467 billion in 2021, corresponding to 2.3% of total global imports.
The Guardian reported that chemical fingerprinting of birch wood found 46% of certified samples did not match their labelled country of origin, raising concerns about sanctioned Russian and Belarusian timber entering UK supply chains.
Element-specific guides for understanding source tracing, fractionation and provenance.
Understand why isotopes of the same element can behave slightly differently during physical, chemical or biological processes.
View coursesLead isotopes can distinguish geological background, mining residues, industrial inputs and mixed contamination sources.
Read related articlesAntimony isotopes can help investigate mine waters, adsorption processes, metallic contamination and source transfer.
Read related articlesStrontium isotopes are useful for provenance questions because they reflect geological and geographical signatures.
Discuss an applicationCopper isotope signatures can support the interpretation of contamination, redox processes and anthropogenic inputs.
View servicesZinc isotopes can complement concentration data when different metal sources or transformation processes overlap.
View servicesLithium isotope signatures can become relevant for raw material provenance, processing questions and critical material traceability.
Discuss a projectNickel and cobalt are strategic elements for energy transition supply chains, where origin and material verification are increasingly important.
Discuss a projectPractical examples of how isotope evidence can answer client questions.
When concentration maps show contamination but cannot clearly separate natural background, historical activity and active industrial inputs.
When old residues, secondary minerals and remobilization processes complicate the interpretation of a contamination plume.
When the source is upstream, the signal is downstream, and water, particles and sediments all modify the apparent contamination pattern.
When the problem is not only chemical composition, but whether a material is consistent with a declared geological or geographical origin.
When supply chains need stronger evidence for provenance, mixing, recycling, substitution risk or supplier comparison.
When documents, labels or declarations need to be complemented by independent material fingerprints.
Courses and external resources for visitors who want to go deeper.
Free, short courses on isotopes, isotope fractionation, isotope tracers and environmental science, written to make key concepts easier to understand.
To coursesCurated external courses on water sciences, water treatment, climate, environmental contamination and related topics.
To MOOCsDocumentaries, alternative websites and external resources for visitors who want to learn without following a complete course.
View resourcesResearch examples that show where isotope tools can be applied.
Shows how stable isotopes can reveal anthropogenic effects in aquatic systems and connect environmental change to source processes.
Read articleHighlights Sb isotopes as tools for tracing emerging contaminants in aquatic and mining-impacted environments.
Read articleDemonstrates how combining isotope systems can improve the interpretation of metallic contamination sources.
Read articleConnects laboratory fractionation mechanisms to mine-water minerals and environmental transfer processes.
Read articleContact IsotopiX when you need to move from general understanding to a concrete isotope strategy for a site, material, product or supply chain.
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